30 May 2018
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has informed us of the discontinuance of proceedings in the two cases brought by Malaysia against Singapore relating to the ICJ’s original Judgment of 23 May 2008 in the case concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
The first case was Malaysia’s application for revision of the ICJ’s original Judgment pursuant to Article 61 of the Statute of the ICJ, filed on 2 February 2017.
The second case was Malaysia’s request for interpretation of the ICJ’s original Judgment pursuant to Article 60 of the Statute of the ICJ, filed on 30 June 2017.
Malaysia informed the ICJ on 28 May 2018 that it would discontinue the proceedings that it had initiated earlier. Singapore informed the ICJ on 29 May 2018 that it agreed with Malaysia’s request for discontinuance. Prior to that, the Malaysian Solicitor General had written to inform Singapore’s Attorney-General of Malaysia’s intention to discontinue the proceedings, and Singapore’s Attorney-General had replied conveying Singapore’s agreement.
In letters dated 29 May 2018, the ICJ informed Malaysia and Singapore that the Court had placed on record the discontinuance, by agreement of the Parties, of the proceedings instituted on 2 February 2017 and 30 June 2017 by Malaysia against Singapore, and directed that the cases be removed from the Court’s List.
In response to the ICJ’s notification, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said:
“We were confident of our case, and the correctness of the original ICJ decision. When Malaysia requested to discontinue the cases, without them being argued, we were happy to agree. Both Malaysia and Singapore had gone through the due legal process and put this matter to rest.
I would like to thank our legal team, led by Professor S. Jayakumar, for their meticulous and comprehensive preparations. The team had put forward clear and compelling arguments against the submissions advanced by Malaysia.”
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
30 MAY 2018